The Meeting

A lot can be learned about Yitzchok and Rivka just from their meeting. We learn about their relationship and about each of their personalities. They both approach things in very different manners and balance each other out.

First we must begin with the story of how they met. Rivka was on her way to meet Yitzchok with Eliezer. Yitzchok is in the field meditating (or some say davening mincha), and hears the camels coming. When Rivka sees him she fall off her camel and covers herself with a scarf. She then asks Eliezer who that man in the field is and is told that is Yitzchok her future husband. Eliezer then tells Yitzchok everything that happened. Upon meeting her, Yitzchok brings Rivka to his mother Sarah's tent and marries her. He loves her and she fills the place of his mother.

The first question we must ask is why did she fall off her camel? Nobody knows for sure, but the answer that I think fits the best is that she is surprised. She comes from a place where you don't see people so engrossed in anything besides themselves. She is in awe of what she is seeing. Then Eliezer tells her that that very same man she is in awe of is to be her husband! She then covers herself because she is not sure she is worthy of him. Here she is with her background, getting married to someone so obviously in-tune with Hashem.

Her initial reactions of awe and self-doubt are going to define her character and their relationship until they die. Because she is unsure of herself compared to his greatness, she is going to be unlikely to speak out against him. As we see in the story of Yaakov and Eisav, she still knows what she wants, but will go about it in a quieter manner then Sarah. Just as Yitzchok is blind to his sons' differences he is also unaware of how Rivka feels. He does not realize that she feels insecure or I am sure he would do what he could to fix that.